ISLAMABAD: The process for visit of convicted Indian spy Kulb­hushan Jadhav’s wife and mother to Pakistan for meeting him has begun with the filing of their visa applications at Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi.

“Visa applications of mother and wife of Com­mander Jadhav received for their visit on humanitarian grounds. Being processed,” FO spokesman Dr Muhammad Faisal tweeted.

India had a few days ago accepted Pakistan’s offer for a meeting between Mr Jadhav and his family on Dec 25.

Pakistan had initially offered a meeting between Jadhav and his wife on “humanitarian grounds”. However, India made the acceptance of the offer conditional to permission for his mother and an Indian diplomat to accompany them. After extensive deliberations, the Indian request was allowed and Dec 25 was proposed as the meeting date.

Jadhav was captured in March last year from Balochistan and tried for sabotage, espionage and terrorism by a military tribunal and was this year convicted and sentenced to death. His appeal against death sentence has been dismissed, while the mercy petition is awaiting Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa’s decision.

The development in the case has happened around the submission of Pakistan’s counter-arguments to the International Court of Justice that is hearing an Indian petition challenging denial of consular access to Jadhav by Pakistan. The counter memorial was submitted by Pakistan at The Hague on Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2017